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Thriving, Joy-filled in Persecutions and Affliction for the Gospel

The wicked hated Jesus because He testified of their evil.

“The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” John 7:7

This is why the “MANY false prophets” today refuse to preach on what God says is sin (Matthew 24:11; 1 John 4:1).

HAVE you noticed – throughout Scripture and today – when unrepentant rebels are rebuked by sound doctrine, instead of repenting, they take up arms against the mere messengers? (John 3:19-21; 7:7) Jesus says to “Rejoice.” (Matthew 5:10-12)

ANY person who walks with Jesus will have their Alexander the Coppersmiths. You will suffer affliction, attack, slander, persecution as was the case with Paul being assailed by Alexander the Coppersmith. Your Judas type enemies, claiming to be your friend, will also attempt to be your nemesis and yet will only dig their own ditch that God will throw them into (Psalms 7:14-16; 9:14-16).

Check this out – something Paul endured and wrote for us to know and navigate by:

“At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Battle scars are a reality for the righteous who are bold as a lion, who are violently taking it by force as they are pressing into Christ’s kingdom (Matthew 11:12; Luke 16:16).

Being attacked by the lost and by false converts only confirms you are a child of God. That right there should be enough to set our feet a dancing!

Check out what happened when Christ’s apostles were persecuted:

“And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach.” Acts 5:40-42

Jesus promised that His people would be persecuted for His sake and warned that if we aren’t being persecuted, it is because we are not His (Luke 6:26).

“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:22-26

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14

Our LORD told us that as we are faithful in what we currently have, He will make us ruler over more (Matthew 25).

Could it be that as you “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ”, that like David, you are going to be ratcheted upward to take out the bear, then the lion, then the goliath? (2 Timothy 2:3)  See 1 Samuel 17.

YOUR PRAYER: Holy LORD, my Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, please bless this Your disciple with the correct disposition concerning all things, especially persecutions and afflictions. Let Your children be filled with Your joy all the days of theirs lives on this earth – as we look for Your soon return LORD Jesus and our eternal joy and abode with Thee in the New Jerusalem. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Psalms. | More on persecution here.

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Abiding

The Simplicity of Real Fellowship [podcast]


Satan thinks he has Stolen the Fellowship of the Saints

“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12

Exhorting God’s People “Daily”

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16

“Feed my sheep”

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”  John 21:15-17

Simplicity in Fellowship

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”  Acts 2:42

They “continued steadfastly in …

  • “the apostles doctrines”
  • “fellowship”
  • “breaking bread”
  • “prayers”

“Great podcast. Thank you. As I was listening I was thinking about all the many churches we have attended through the years. And the one thing missing was love for Jesus. Everything was robotic. Hands raised in singing but no hearts raised. All scripted. You follow the script then go home. No honesty about their lives! All fake. Nothing more than a religious gathering. The disciples of old turned the world upside down because of their love for their Savior! They were willing to die for Him and they did! All these fake Christians do is wear outward religious garb and somehow think Jesus doesn’t know – as in Matthew 23. How refreshing it is to be around people who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind! (Mat 22:37). Even if it is mostly online and as they live their daily lives. At least it is all about Jesus and not self! And I want to be with people who are Christ-centered not self-centered!” Karen Cochran

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please do Your work in this vessel that is Yours. Help me to love You more and to live to serve others as You did LORD Jesus. Make me holy as You are holy. Let this life be crucified and raised up by You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Abiding

Fruitfulness is Found in Abiding in Christ [podcast]


“A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” Proverbs 28:20

Jesus is the True Vine

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:1-7

“The understanding is, if I am truly abiding in Christ (the Vine, my first love) then the fruit will come from Him, and not from me—of my own making—but through me. Again, it’s relationship with Christ that is the root of the matter, and not just outwardly keeping a list of rules (living under the law).

‘Abiding fruitfulness’—so loaded with meaning!

    1. for your own state of abiding in Christ
    2. for the fruit that is brought forth because you are abiding in Christ (the Vine) Who gives life to and bears the fruit
    3. that the fruit itself (fruit of the Spirit, souls of men and all good works that are born of the Spirit) will abide (remain) and flourish in God’s kingdom on earth and in eternity.” Debbie L.

IF JESUS is purging you, rejoice—because that means He’s born good fruit in your life and wants to bring forth more! Boom.

“Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:2

*Read that again.

IF you are not a DOER of God’s Word, it proves you are not saved and are a lukewarm hell bound rebel. Repent now and bring forth fruit to prove it (Matthew 3:7-10; 7:21; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4; Revelation 2:26, etc.).

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

HOW DID JESUS tell us to know/discern ourselves and others?

The FRUIT of our lives (Matthew 7:16,20).

The root determines the fruit.

Are you rooted in Christ?

Our works are the good fruit born out of Christ’s salvation and present work in our lives. Those good works do not save us but are a mere outworking of His great salvation in us.

FRUIT vs GIFTS

There are lots of people bragging about their GIFTS which alone tells you they are not in Christ who taught that the greatest among us will be the SERVANT of all—the FRUIT of God’s love in the true remnant disciple (Matthew 20:24-28; 23:8-12).

Gospel Hint: God is interested in a real relationship with those who choose Him. That relationship will always bear good fruit. FRUIT is the crop of an abiding relationship with Jesus which is the stated reason that God the Father sent His only begotten Son (John 15:1-16; 17:3). Anyone can operate in or even fake gifts. Gifts are glitter. Fruit is foundation! The root determines the fruit. What fruit is being born, produced in your life? Are you asking God to make you one with Him? Read John 17.

In the divine economy, FRUIT is much more important than GIFT because good FRUIT can only come out of relationship.

GOD is interested in FRUIT that only comes from a ROOTED abiding relationship! See Matthew 3:7-10; John 15, etc. Jesus foretold that on Judgment Day “MANY” will call out to Him with “Lord, Lord” as they boast of the GIFTS they operated in. “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:19-23).

Taking up the cross, suffering the death of self, is not earning us salvation… it’s simply rendering worship-filled “obedience to the faith” (Romans 1:5) – faith in the ONE who bled on that cross to earn salvation for us, all by Himself!

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Articles

Chosen for Holiness [podcast]


“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Ephesians 1:4

Holiness comes by the Savior in self denial (death and burial – the cross), not by self will or effort. Surrender is the cross – “NOT my will but thine be done” (Lk. 22:42) and “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). We surrender to Christ by saying “Not my will but thine be done” dear Lord, by Your grace and the deliberate act of my own will I submit to the cross, the crucified life – where You alone reign supreme in this vessel (Luke 22:42; Galatians 2:20, etc.).  I love You LORD Jesus! You must increase but I must decrease! (John 3:30)

Holiness, not happiness, is the divine command, the chief purpose and end of Christ’s salvation.

Of holiness, one disciple writes:

“Holiness speaks more to nature than it does conduct. Good conduct is the spontaneous byproduct of the new nature of the new creation man thru the cross and death to the old nature. We are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-18). To preach holiness as conduct without the new nature thru the cross understanding is legalism. Holiness is actually derived from ‘wholeness’ meaning the thorough transformation of the whole tripartite man (1 Thess 5:23).  So many of these ‘holiness’ preachers are preaching nothing but conduct under law. Law arouses sinful passions and causes sin to increase and was given in order to provoke transgressions (Rom 7:5; 5:20; Gal 3:21). They are enemies of the cross!”

Holiness comes by way of the cross, not by way of the flesh. Just as sin was conquered by the cross of Christ, so sin in the life of the saint is conquered by the daily cross – the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). It’s time to stop trying harder and to simply die deeper.

NOTICE: When a believer or group of believers backslides, they no longer separate from the transgressors who are unrepentant:

Fornication Defiles

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have (Gr. possessed and wouldn’t repent) his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

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